im sorry but ive been searching and im starting to get confused and having a hard time finding the info i need.

I did some wheeling this weekend got real stuck and now know what lockers are for. I got out eventually and didnt smash any panels or windows (although it was really close trees were really close less than an inch at one point)

I would like to upgrade eventually
my thoughts/plans are
front winch, axles, and locker
as time and money allows

ive got a 92 auto 4.0 with (i think) 3:55 gears
d30 in front d35 in back

i found a 8.25 rear axle with 3:55 gears on cl list.
should I get it ?
how hard is this swap?
I dont know how to weld, is it bolt on?
will it work with my front 30?

I read about the drive shaft lenth differance
Ive got a 3" lift so will i be ok?
what about the spline count?

 

you want a 8,25 out of a 97+ with 29 spline shafts= to a dana 44 took me like 2 hours to swap the axle out and build a leaf pack with a buddy. not hard at all. bolt on you'll need new ubolts and might as well do brakes while you have it all apart.

 

well that answers that question. it looks to be an older 8.25 axle.
oh well. guess ill just keep my eyes opean for another one or a 44.

thanks for the info!

also
my front right spring purch is rusting rotting away. should I just replace the whole front axle and if so with what another 30?

 

30s are nice and easy to swap out just make sure its from a XJ post 91 pre 2000 later ones have bigger u-joints also if you have both axles out I'd spend a little $$ and get them geared and locked out side of the rig lot easier on the shop.

 

thanks for the help, just finished reading through your build thread.
nice looking xj! mine is my daily driver so im still thinking about the lockers.
I like the full time for on road driving. I might just lock the rear. how do you like the aussie locker?

 

i have all of 30 miles on it right now because i was fighting a PCM issue since October. so far I like it not noticeable on the street really and want to put a lunch box up front but i might start braking parts if i did that

 

Does the Craigslist 8.25 state what year it came out of? If it is a 97 or later 8.25 it will have the 29 spline shafts. If it is cheap enough you could buy it, and put 1541H aftermarket 29 spline shafts in the 91-96 Cherokee 8.25s

 

If you are going to lock the 8.25 eventually buy it. You can acquire 29 spline axles after the fact. Then when you are ready to put in your locker you can pull the shafts and spider gears and install the locker. It will bolt right in. I am doing a disc brake conversion on mine currently before I bolt it in. It is very easy and simple and cheap provided that you have a local junkyard.